Milestone for Newtonmore folk park
What was making the headlines in the Strathy 25 years ago . . .
The purchase of land for the proposed folk park at Newtonmore should go ahead on April 2, and some kind of development could be open to the public next year.
Badenoch and Strathspey District Council heard that £150,000 had been earmarked by the regional council towards initial development, although it has not yet been decided who will run it or on what scale it will be.
District councillors raised the question with regional curator Mr Ross Noble, who is preparing an outline draft development plan for the park.
"Whether or not these things actually happen remains to be seen," said Mr Noble.
"My own view is that there may well be something happening with the park by 1988, and it may possibly be open to the public."
There was one dissenting voice when Councillor George Chalmer, Laggan, expressed his disappointment that "there always seems to be money to finance the past but not the future".
"I am amazed by the amount of money available to spend on history when we should be spending on our future," he said. "We all suffer from limited financial constraints, and I feel we should be looking to our youth."
‘Black snow’ row boils up
‘BLACK SNOW’ on the Cairngorms could become an election issue, according to local MP Sir Russell Johnston, who has accused the Government of sacrificing the environment for short-term financial consideration.
Sir Russell argued that Britain should fall in line with 19 other nations in agreeing to reduce sulphur emission into the air by 30% within the next five years.
Black snow in the Cairngorms, which is caused by pollution, is the first scientific phenomenon of its kind anywhere in the world.
Sir Russell clashed with Scottish Office Environment Minister, Mr Michael Ancram, who said that such a short-term reduction in the UK would be expensive and unjustified.
"For the UK to achieve such a significant further reduction over a shorter timescale would be extremely expensive, and could not be justified on current scientific advice as regards the rate of recovery which might be achieved," he said.
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Sir Russell said Mr Ancram was giving priority to short-term financial consideration over the long-term good of the environment.
He claimed the Alliance would seek to tap new and old power sources to help reduce pollution.
Fight is on to save grocer
GRANTOWN is taking action to stop the closure of another High Street shop and the quickening of a decline in local services.
Pressure is growing to keep the doors of one of Grantown’s largest grocery stores – Coopers Fine Fare – open.
Last week it was announced that the shop, which employs nine people, was being put up for sale by the Dee Corporation, and if a buyer was not found it would be closed.
This week local people are supporting a petition to fend off possible closure, and there has been a call for local shoppers to boycott the Fine Fare free bus to Inverness.
Fears are growing for consequent loss of jobs and that Grantown’s High Street may become bereft of many shops with declining competition meaning rising prices.
Wetland of wonders
INSH Marshes, on the River Spey, has been formally confirmed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The 1,177-hectare site covers a section of the Spey from Newtonmore to Speybank below Kincraig, and is described by the Nature Conservancy Council as "one of the most important wetland sites in Scotland".
The formal confirmation by the NCC follows a year of intensive consultation with the 24 individual owner/occupiers affected.
The area was first notified as an SSSI in 1964 when it was known as Loch Insh Fens. In 1974 it was revised as River Spey – Insh Marshes.
This latest re-notification brings it into line with the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act.
The site is currently used mainly for sheep and cattle grazing along with shooting and fishing interests.
The NCC are content that the present type of land management should continue, but have explained to all owner-occupiers what activities could damage the scientific interest of the site.
This means that under the law, owners-occupiers have to consult with the NCC on any activity they might be contemplating, but the NCC stressed such activities would not necessarily be prohibited.
Land’s ‘value’ under attack
AVIEMORE publican Mr Andrew MacWilliam has hit out at claims that a piece of land opposite the Old Bridge Inn in Dalfaber Road has some "amenity value" to local people.
Aviemore Community Council expressed objections to a planning application for "motorised sports" on this land, claiming it was a residential area not suited to this type of activity.
The application is by Tynesider Mr Ian Campbell for the change of use of this car parking area and scrubland to "motorised sport and picnic area".
"This area of land has never been used by local people in the three and a half years it was leased to us at the Old Bridge Inn," said Mr MacWilliam, who also mentioned he was not involved with this new development.
"If the community council are objecting to this application on the grounds of the area’s amenity value to the village, they are deluding themselves and misleading the planners.
"I accept there might be alternative uses which might serve the village better, perhaps a bowling green or picnic area, but at the moment it is just marshy ground with no amenity value."
